Everest Base Camp Trek (EBC)

Pack your bags and get ready to experience a captivating picturesque flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Enjoy the exciting and scenic 40 minutes’ flight, taking in the gorgeous views of the snow-capped mountains beneath the wings of your plane. Soon we will land at the Tenzing Hillary Airport at Lukla at an altitude of only 2,860 meters. When we land in Lukla, we’ll meet up with the rest of our trekking team, gather our supplies, and prepare to hit the road. Our first day of trekking will serve as a gentle introduction to the tougher days to come.

We will begin our trek through Chaurikharka village and descend towards Dudhkoshi Ghat. We’ll gradually ascend, passing by a series of small mountain villages and settlements before reaching the serpentine river known as the Dudh Koshi river. The trail ahead is lined with boulders and rocks carefully engraved with Buddhist mantras known as mani walls. Leaving them behind, we’ll descend along tranquil forested paths to reach the bustling settlement of Phakding where we will rest for the day and prepare ourselves for the long trek the next day.

After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey along the northern bank of the Dudh Koshi River taking in all the natural beauty surrounding us, the fragrant pine forest, and cascading waterfalls, crossing many suspension bridges along the way. We will be greeted by glimpses of the majestic snow-capped giants through the forests which bring home the reality of trekking to the highest mountains in the world.

Following the trail, we will arrive at the Sagarmatha National Park Check Post where we will have our permits registered and hike past several smaller villages before arriving at the town of Monjo. From Monjo, our path now takes us to the wilderness of Sagarmatha National Park. As we walk underneath the branches of pine, juniper, and birch, we will get a chance to see various wildlife including more than 200 species of bird and a few large mammals, like the Himalayan tahr and musk deer. Trekking further, we will finally arrive at Namche Bazaar crossing a series of impressive suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers. We will be resting here tonight.

Today is a day for acclimatization. We will take it easy and explore Namche Bazaar, the commercial center and trading hub of the entire Khumbu region. We can take this time to roam around the settlement, enjoy the local restaurants and souvenir shops, and this also allows for a journey to Thame and Khumjung. There is also a Sherpa village which is an hour hike from Namche Bazaar where we will get a glimpse of Sherpa’s Culture, Lifestyle, and traditions which carry decades of history.

Today we will trek towards Tengboche. The trail will be full of ups and downs making the trek challenging but we’ll be rewarded with the breathtaking views of the Himalayas. We will walk through dense alpine forests where we will get a chance to spot beautiful wildlife such as musk deers, Himalayan Thar, etc. Crossing the Dudh Koshi River, we will reach a quaint village called Phunki Thenga. After trekking further, we will reach Tengboche. In Tengboche, we will visit the Tengboche Monastery- a beautiful monastery on the top of the hill and will get a chance to observe the prayers of the monks there. After a hot dinner, we will rest for the night in our lodge.

Today, after a hearty breakfast, we will head towards Dingboche, passing many monasteries, mani walls, and charming small villages on our way. Prepare yourself to ascend steep climbs and walk through traitorous mountain terrain. We will soon be rewarded with a magical panorama of the Ama Dablam peak. As we reach Dingboche, we will be greeted by the elegant arrangement of meadows enclosed by beautiful stone walls protecting crops like barley, buckwheat, and potatoes. We will rest our bodies in one of the lodges at Dingboche after conquering a challenging day of the trek.

Trekking in the higher altitudes requires plenty of acclimatization period hence today we will be taking it easy and giving our body time to adjust to the thinning air to avoid getting sick. We will take this time to explore Dingboche and enjoy short hikes around the settlement. We will get to enjoy the majestic picturesque close-up view of the snow-capped peaks such as Lhotse, the backside of Ama Dablam, and the Island peak. Cho Oyu and Makalu mountain ranges are a sight to behold on their own. We will experience these wonders of nature on our acclimatization day at Dingboche.

Today we will be blessed with breathtaking mountain views almost throughout the whole trek. Get ready to be challenged by the constant uphill difficult trail, however, with the rise in elevation, we start seeing a better view of the peaks. As we further progress, we start encountering memorial statues of the climbers who passed away in this region. The trail ahead will be challenging yet enjoyable. It will make us ponder on the wonders of life and nature. Enjoying the trek, we soon reach Lobuche where we rest for the night.

Today is the day we reach our destination, Everest Base Camp! Our trek will begin early in the morning. With much excitement in our hearts, we will conquer all the difficult trekking routes to set our foot on the EBC. We trek through Gorakshep, savoring the view of the majestic snow-capped giants looming all around us. Finally, we reach the base camp and indulge in the reality of our achievement. This trek is not a luxury: this is an experience of a lifetime!

Savoring some precious moments at the base camp appreciating our efforts and our bodies enabled us to leave our footprint here; we retrace our steps back to Gorakshep. Tonight we will celebrate our accomplishment and enjoy the delicious food and warm hospitality of the locals.

Today we hike to Kalapatthar. We will start our trek at the break of dawn and reach Kalapatthar to enjoy the splendid sunrise view that paints the snowy peaks of Mt. Everest and other surrounding mountains golden. After savoring the majestic view, we will retrace our steps back to Gorakshep then trek to Pheriche. Pheriche is a peaceful and beautiful small village situated at the lap of the mountains. We will enjoy our night here cherishing the memories made in the previous trek days.

The tenth day of our Everest Base Camp Trek will bring us back through the beautiful pine and rhododendron forests and allow us an opportunity to spot the unique wildlife of the area. We will retrace our steps to Dudh Koshi River through Tengboche and further trek to reach Namche Bazaar. After resting our feet and getting settled at our lodge, we will be free to enjoy our evening at our leisure. We will take our time to explore the various markets, shops, bakeries, and cafes in town. We will take our time to check out the Sherpa Museum to learn more about these brave mountain communities and their enthralling lifestyle and culture.

Starting our day with a delicious breakfast, we pack our belongings and begin the last part of our unforgettable adventure. Today, we retrace our steps back to Lukla via Monjo and Phakding. The trail may be difficult on our legs due to the steep descends on many parts. However, we will cross the hurdles enjoying our journey back to Lukla through the tranquil trail. After we reach Lukla, we will have time to rest our feet then explore this interesting little village and mingle with the locals. At night we will enjoy a hearty dinner and celebrate the success of our journey.

Be ready to fly back to Kathmandu early in the morning today, after breakfast. Make sure to capture one last glimpse of the mighty Everest from the window of your plane and reflect on the extraordinary memories you made during the trek.